Face guard or mask: The face guard attaches to the hockey helmet. It can be made of a wire mesh or Plexiglas. A face guard that only covers the eyes is called a half shield. (Find great deals at our on line Hockey Equipment store.)
Face-off circle: There are five face off circles on the rink. When the officials execute a face-off at the dot within these circles, all other players must stay outside the circle.
Face-off: The face off is the mechanism the referee or linesman uses to restart play. A player from each team lines up facing each other and the official drops the puck between them to start play. Click here to see a lesson from NHLer Kirk Muller on how to take a face off.
Fair Play: A league scoring system that takes into account penalty minutes is known as Fair Play. Each team gets one fair play point per game in addition to the normal points awarded (e.g. 2 for a win, 1 for tie or OT loss, 0 for a loss.) Each league establishes a penalty minute threshold (e.g. 12 minutes/game.) If a team exceeds the threshold they lose their Fair Play point. Penalty minutes can also be awarded against coaches and in some cases fans. The goal of Fair Play is to focus the game on hockey skills instead of excessive roughness, fighting and obnoxious behavior from fans and coaches.
Fake shot: A fake shot is executed by bringing the stick back as though the player were ready to take a slap shot. However, the player then quickly brings the stick back down to the ice and begins to stick handle. Fake shots can be used to deke around a defender or to freeze a goalie before executing a different type of shot. Click here to see a good example from CBC's think hockey team on how to fake a shot.
Falling on the puck: If a player accidentally falls on the puck and the officials can no longer see it they will stop play. If a player falls on the puck intentionally to stop play the referee can call a minor penalty.
Finish a Check: In regular checking hockey a player is allowed to hit their opponent if they have had the puck and have gotten rid of it. This is known as finishing a check and is not allowed in no-check hockey.
Five hole: The potential scoring areas around a goal are numbered from one to four starting in the lower right corner and proceeding clockwise at each corner of the net. The "5 hole" is between the goalies legs on the ice.
Flex: Hockey sticks are manufactured with different degrees of flex - medium to extra stiff. A stronger player usually wants a stiffer stick in order to impart more velocity to a shot.
Flip pass: A flip pass is used to pass to a teammate by lifting the puck slightly off the ice as it travels.
Flip shot: A flip shot is taken by cocking the wrists and releasing them quickly. Very little arm or body weight shifting is used. Flip shots are normally taken close in to the goal
Fore-checking: Fore-checking is a technique to gain control of the puck in the offensive zone when the defensive team has the puck. The offensive team fore-checks by sending one or two players in close to the defensive player who has the puck in order to take it away.
Forehand pass: A pass, which originates from the forehand side of the stick.
Forehand shot: A shot, which come off of the forehand side of the stick
Forehand: The puck is carried on the stick during stick handling on either the forehand or backhand side. The "forehand" side of the stick is the side, which is on the inside of the stick curve.
Freezing the puck: When a goalie falls on a puck on the rink it is known as freezing the puck and play stops.